Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-07

present tariff on wool is illusory, and
above all. when it must be conceded
that the increase OF the cost of living
caused by such tariff becomes bur-
den upon those with moderate means,
and the pour, tb- employed and un-
employed, the sick and we'll, and the
Young and old, and that it con st.tuted
tax which
WITH RELENTLESS GRASP
Is fastened upon the clothing of every
man, woman and child in the land
reasons are suggested why the re
moval or reduction of this duty should
not he included in revision OF our
tariff laws. In speaking of the in
| creased cost to the consumer of our
home manufactures, resulting from IA
duty laid upon impor ed articles of the
same description, The fact is not over
looked that competition among our
domestic producers sometimes has the
effect of keeping the price OF our
products below the highest limit al
lowed by such duty. But it is
notorious that this competition is
too often strangled by combinations
quite prevalent at this time and fire.
quently called trusts, which have for
their object the regulation of the sup
ply and price of commodities mad.
and sold by members OF the combina-
ton. The people can hardly hoI e
for any consideration in the operati N
of these selfish schemes. Ii, how
eve in the absence of such conIbi-
nation a healthy and free CONF elton
reduces the price of any particular
dntial,le article of home production
below the nit which it milht other
wise reah und our tariff laws, and
| if with such reduced price its manu-.
| fac'ure continues to thrive, it j.
entirely evident that one thing has
been discovered which should be Care
fully scrutinized in an effort to reduce
tax ,tion. The necessity of combina
ton to maintain the price of any COM
modify to the tariff point furnishes
loof that some one is willing to a.
G. pit lower prices for such commodity
and that such prices are remunera-
tive, and the latter prices are produced
| by com rettion prove the same thing
Thus, where either of these conditions
exist, q case would seem to be
presented for an easy reduction
Of taxation. The considerations
which have been presented touching
our tariff laws are intended only to
enforce
AN EARNEST RECOMMENDATION
That the surplus revenues OF the Gov
eminent he prevented, by the reduce
ton OF our customs duties AMI at the
same me to emphas re the sugges-
ton that in accomplishing this pur-
pose we may discharge "a double duty
to our people by granting to them a
measure Of relief from tariff taxation
In quarters wh-re it is most needed
and from sources where it can BIZ
most fairly and Justly accorded Nor
can the presentation made OF such
consideration be with any degree OF
fairness regarded as evidence of un.
friendlness toward our manufacturing
interests or any lack of appreciation
of their value and importance These
interests constitute leading and most
substantial element of our national
greatness and furnish the proof OF our
country's progress. If in the emer-
gency that presses upon us our manu-
lecturers are asked to surrender some.
thing for the public good and to av. 1T
disaster, their patriotism, as well as a
grateful recognition Of thu advantages
already afforded, should lead them to
be willingly cooperative. No demand
is made that they shall forego all the
benefits If COVE nmental regard, but
they cannot want to be adnuniShed
of their duty as we'll as their enlisht-
ened self interest and SAT ty,
when they are reminded of the fa' t
that the financial panic and collapse
to viii, h the present condition tends.
affords no greater shelter or protection
| to our manufactures than to our other
important enterprises. An oppoitu-
nifty for safe, careful and deliberate
reform is now offered, and none of us
should be unmindful of time when
an abused and rritated people, heel
less of those who have resisted timely
and reasonable relief, may insist upon
radical and sweeping rectitication OF
their wrongs. The difficulty attending
WISE AND FAIR REVISION
OF our tariff laws is not under-esti
mated. 1t will require, on the part Of
Congress, great labor and care, and
especially broad and national con-
temptation of the subject, and u
patriotic disregard of such local ami
selfish claims as are unreasonable and
reckless OF the welfare of the entire
country. Under our present laws
more than four thousand articles are
subject to duty. Many of these do
not IN any way compete with our own
manufactures, and many are hardly
worth attention as subjects OF revenue
| \ considerable reduction can be made
in the aggregate by adding them To
the fies list. The tuxationof luXurie>
presents no features of hardship, but
the necessities of life used and con-
sumed by all the people, the duty
upon which adds to the cost Of
living in every home, shout
be greatly cheapened. The
radical reduction OF the dutie,
imposed upon raw material used in
manufactur-, or its free importation is
OF course an important factor in any
effort to reduce the prices of these
nscessaries. 1t would not only re
lieve them from the increased cost
caused by the tariff on such material
hut the manufactured product being
cheapened, that part of the tariff now
laid upon such product as compensa-
ton to our manufacturers, for the
price OF raw material couli be accord
ingly notified, aud such reduction OF
free importation would serve, besides,
to largely
REDUCE THE REVENUE.
1t is not appare how such u change
can have any injurious effects upon
our manufacturers, on the contrary,
it would appear to give them a better
chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers OF other countries, who
cheaper their wares by free material
and thus our people might have the